Envelopes or similae



v '6 Sheets-Sheeh 1/ G. SIGKELS, Jr. MACHINE FOR MAKING ENVELOPES 0RSIMILAR REGEPTAULES.

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Patented Feb. 19, 1889.

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G. 'SICKELS, J1, MACHINE FOR MAKING ENVE LOPES OR SIMILAR REGEPTAULES.No. 398,284. Patented Feb. 19, 1889.

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WITNESSES (No Model.) 6 SheetsS"heet 3; G. SIOKELS,.J1-. MACHINE FORMAKING ENVELOPES 0R SIMILAR REGEPTAGLBS;

No. 398,284. Patented Feb. 19, 1889.

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MACHINE FOR MAKING ENVELOPES QR SIMILAR REGEPTAGLES. No. 398,284.Patented Feb. 19, 1889.

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G. SICKELS, Jr. MACHINE FOR MAKING ENVELOPES 0R SIMILAR REGEPTAGLES.

Patented .Feb. 19, 1889.

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(No Model.) V '6 Sheets-Sheet 6.,- G. SIGKELS, Jr. MACHINE FOR MAKINGENVELOPES OR SIMILAR REGEPTAULES...

No. 398,284. Patented Feb. 19, 1889.

INVENTOR:

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UNTTED STATES PATENT Trice.

GERARD SICKELS, JR, OF QBROOKLYN, NE\V YORK, ASSIGNOR Oh ONE-HALF TOABEL T. I-IOWVARD, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING ENVELOPES 0R SIMILAR RECEPTACLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,284, dated February19 1889. Application filed January 29, 1887. Renewed May 23, 1888.Serial No. 274,817. (No model.)

certain Improvements in Machin es for Making Envelopes or SimilarReceptacles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of machines which areemployed for making envelopes, bags, or other receptacles from paper andsimilar materials.

In my Letters Patent No. 271,282, of Jannary 30, 1883, and No. 307,079,of October-2], 1884, I described and claimed machines for this purpose;and my present invention relates to further improvements on the machinesdescribed in my said Letters Patent.

My invention will be hereinafter fully described, and its novel featurescarefully defined in the claims.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is aplan of the machine with the gum-roller and gum-fountains for thesealing and the bottom flaps removed to: avoid obscuring other parts.

Fig. 2 is aview of the right-hand side of the machine, mainly inelevation, but the rear end of the machine in longitudinal verticalsection. I have been compelled for lack of room to omit from Figs. 1 and2 the mechanism for I folding the sealing-flap of the envelope. Fig. 3is an elevation of a part of the left-hand side of the machine, designedto show the pneumatic device for effecting the suction. Fig. r is anelevation of the front end of the machine. Fig. 4c is a view of theunder side of the machine table or bed, designed to illustrate themechanism for operating the lateral folders. Fig. 4 is a side elevation,partly in section, of the rear end of the machine and illustrating themechanism for gumming and folding the sealing-flap of the envelope anddelivering the latter. Fig. 4 is a rear view of that part of the machineseen in Fig. 4;". Figs. at and t are detached views showing the cams foractuating the flap-folding mechanism seen in Fig. 4: Figs. 4" and a areon a little larger scale than Figs. 1 to 4:, and Figs. at and i are on astill larger scale.

5 and 6 are views on a large scale, detached, illustrating the cammechanism for operating the blank separating and feeding devices. Figs.7 and S are detached sectional views, on the same scale as Figs. 5 and(j, illustrating the construction and operation of the blank separatingand feeding mechanisms. Figs. .9, 10, and 11 are sectional views, on alarge scale, illustrating the construction and operation of themechanism for positively actuating the tumbler. Fig. 12 is a sectionalview, on a large scale, showing the mode of mounting and driving thechains under the main carrying-belt. Fig. 13 is a view showing the styleof envelope or receptacle the machine illustrated is designed to makethat is to say, a receptacle with its mouth and closing-flap at the end.instead of at the side. Fig. 14 is a plan view of the guniming-rollerIf, detached, showing the circumferential grooves in same. Figs. 15 and15 are respectively a side elevation and "ertical section of the gumming mechanism, that will be hereinafter d cscribed.

I will only briefly describe or refer to those features of my presentmachine that are sub stantially the same as those described in mybefore-mentioned patents.

' The operative mechanism is mounted on a suitable bed, table, or frame,A, usually of metal, in order to insure strength and sta- 8c bility.

B- is the main endless carrying-belt mounted on rollers or drums C C,which are driven in unison positively through the medium of toothedgears in substantially the same mannor as the corresponding parts of themachine described in my last-named patent, powerbeing applied to theaxis of one of said rollers through the medium of tight and loosepulleys D.

E is a fixed frame mounted on bed A, and F F are thin folding-blades forfolding the lateral or side flaps of the receptacle, secured adj ustablyto frame E by thumb-screws to CL. These blades stand just far enoughabove the carrying-belt B to permit the blanks to pass under them.

G is the blank-platform, mounted in suit able vertical guides, G, sothat it may play up and down, and G are the springs which too hold saidplatform up.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a treadle, H, and

cords I), which connect it with the blank-platform, whereby the lattermay be lowered conveniently by the foot, so that a supply of blanks maybe placed thereon.

In Figs. 5, '7, and 8, X represents the pile of blanks on saidplat-form.

The abovenamed features of the machine are much the same as thosedescribed in my former patent.

The general operation of the machine is as follows: The topmost blank isseparated or individualized by a separator, and then fed into themachine (at the left-hand end in Figs. 1 and 2) by a feeder. Then theside flaps or lateral flaps are folded by reciprocating lateral folders.Then the gum is applied for the bottom or end flaps. Then a tumblerfolds down this latter flap and a roller presses down' and seals it fastto the envelope-body. Then gum is applied to the sealing-flap and theenvelope transferred to an endless-chain carrier. This carrier is longenough to allow the gum on the sealing-flap to become dry by the timethe envelope reaches the folder. The folder takes the envelope from thecarrier, folds the sealingflaps, and delivers the finished envelope intoa box like receptacle. Before the blank reaches the folders that turnthe side flaps a gum-roller applies the necessary gum to one of theseflaps to seal it down on the other. The gumming apparatus employed forthis purpose has some novel features. I employ herein the sameprecautionary device for pre venting the application of gum to thecarrying-belt when no blank is passing the gumming-roller that I showedand described in my last-named patent, and as this forms no part of mypresent invention I need not describe it. The device is, however,illustrated in Fig. 1.

'Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, l, 5, ll, 7, and 8, I will now describe theblank separator and feeder.

. Mounted to oscillate in suitable bearings on the bed A a shaft, I,which carries a presser-foot, c, and mounted to oscillate on this shaft.I is a tubular or sleeve shaft, I, which carries another presser-foot,0. One or the other of these presserfeet rests on the pile of blanks Xat all times, and thus limits the upward movement of the blank-platformby resisting the springs G which tend to raise the same. Theprcsser-feet cc are given alternate oscillatory movements by themechanism seen in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein d d are like cams setoppositely on the axis of one of the drums C. These cams have each theform of a circular disk with a little less than onehalf its peripherycut away down to the boss.

c c are forked cam-rods, which embrace and are guided on the cam-axis,and which have laterallyprojecting pins f f, respectively, upon whichthe cams (Z d bear, respectively. On shaft I is an arm, g, and on shaftI is an arm, g. Arnrg is coupled to rod 6, and arm g is coupled to rode.

Retracting-springs h h are connected at their one ends to arms 9 g,respectively, and at their other ends to the machine-bed. Continuousrotary motion of drum 0 imparts alternate oscillatory movements to thepresserfeet 0 c. The foot 0 is forked, and between its prongs ispivotally mounted the sucker i, which has an air-passage through it anda tubular stem, whereby it is connected to the pneumatic device orair-pump (to be herein after described) by a flexible tube, j. Theoperation of this blank-separating device is well illustrated in Figs. 7and 8, the former of which shows the feeder in the act of feeding theblank to the machine and the separator in the act of picking up the nextblank, and

the latter the feeder as having just taken the blank from the separatorwhile the presserfoot 0 is holding down the blanks and platform. First,the foot 0, bearing the sucker 6, moves forward and presses down uponthe topmost blank, the foot 0 drawing back out of the way. (See positionin Fig. '7.) Then the air is exhausted, and the topmost blank caused toadhere to the sucker i. The foot 0 now advances and acts on the underside and rear of the sucker as a cam, raising the latter up and swingingit on its pivot. The foot 0 is enabled to move under the sucker i with awiping motion without danger of catching against and detaching the blanktherefrom by reason of a heel, 1:, on the sucker, which serves as aprotector or guard. As the tip of the topmost blank is thus bent upward,(be ing attached to the sucker,) the foot 0 passes under said blank andseparates it from the pile X. The foot 0 now starts back, and the foot 0is left pressing on the blanks. The feeder at this time comes into play.This comprises thefollowing-described mechanism:

On a shaft, I, mounted to oscillate in bearings in brackets on the frameE, is fixed a frame, h. This frame is caused to vibrateby means shown inFigs. 5 and (i, which comprise a cam, 1;, on the axis of drum (3, and aforked cam-rod, 1, bearing a pin or stud, m, against which the camimpinges. The end of this cam-rod is coupled to an arm, n, fixed toshaft .l'. The cam ls. rocks the shaft .l in one direction, and asuitable spring, 0, (seen in Fig. 4-,) serves as a retracting-spring torock it in the opposite direction. l'l ung in the ,vilnatiug frame K, ona rod, p, is a frame, K, the upper end of which. bears against across-bar, q, in frame K, being held up to said bar by springs r. Thelower end of frame K consists of two concave feeders s s,one at eachside of the presser-feet c c. \Vhen frame K is vibrated, these feeders 8take under the separated blank and move it forward and up to the carryin g-belt B, where the latter breaks over the drum (l, as seen in Figs.'7 and S.

The object in mounting frame K in frame K and providing the springs r'7' is to permit the feeders s to press the blank up to thecarrying-belt elastically; otherwise the-frames K and K might be in one,or be connected rig- IIO its

idly together. The feeders s 3 do not actually press the blank againstthe belt B. This is done by two rollers,t t, carried by frame K. Inorder to keep the blank up close to the carrying-belt l3 as the latterfeeds it forward, and in order to insure the blank being seized betweenthe carrying-belt and the upper belt, -(to be hereinafter described,) Iemploy a curved guide-plate, u, hinged at "n in the frame K, and itsfree end resting 011 the belt l3. This guide-plate is kept pressedlightly and elastically up to the belt B bya spring, 10.

A shaft, L, is rotatively mounted in frame, It directly over the axis ofdrum C, and

keeps the lower horizontal side of belt N pressed down elastically onthe carrying-belt B. \Vhen the feeders s 3 roll the end of the blank upto the carrying-belt and the rollers I press it against said belt, thelatter by :t'rictional contact carries the blank upward from the pile Xunder the guide '16, and into the bite of the belts B and N.- Thesebelts now carry it onward (to the right in 1 and 2) under thefolding-blades F F. As the blank is" fed forward bottom end first, gumis applied to one of the side flaps by a gumming-roller, I, mounted onthe shaft .L, and standing in the proper position to apply the gum tothe margin of the flap in form of a stripe. This roller I? receives gumfrom the roller of a gumming apparatus, Q. (Seen in Fig. l.) I haveshown this fountain in Fig. 2

-in dotted lines, in order-to avoid obscuring the parts behind it. Itwill be described hereinafter with refermice to Figs. 15 and 15*, Theroller I has certain peculiarities, which I will makes one revolutionfor each passing blank, and the roller has of course a peripheral speedthat equals the speed at which the blank moves. The liieripheralmeasurement of the roller exceeds the length of the longestenvelopennnle on the machine, and a part ofits peri 'ihery is out mvayntP, the portion remaining measuringa little lessthan thelength of thelateral flap, to which gum is to be ap plied, as it is not desirable toallow the stripe of gum to extend quite to the ends of the flap. Thisrollerwill be changed for envelopes of different lengths, the severalrollers employed differing only in the width of the-space P.

The roller may be set along shaft L at any point to adapt it forenvelopes of different widths. As the blank passes the lateral folders,the lateral flaps are folded over thereby.

R R are these lateral folders which are l l l t .flaps of the blankneatly over the latter.

5 on the ungummed flap. nowdescribe The shaftL, earryingthis roller,

slots in the table orbed A. I usually mount the folders adjustably onthe plates R, and they are arranged to move in a plane a little abovethe folding-blades F, so as to fold the Z) are inclines or lifterssecured to the table just ahead of the gumming-roller P. These aredesigned to raise the lateral flaps high enough to pass over or clearthe ends of the folders R. i

The mechanism which operates both folders R simultaneously is best seenin Figs. 4; and a As the folders are actuated by like mechanisms, I needonly describe one. On the axis of the drum 0 is mounted a cam, c", whichacts on a pin or stud in one end of a lever, S, pivotally mounted on theunder side of table A. The other endof lever S bears against the side ofa stud, 2 in the under side of the sliding plate R, carrying folder R. Aspiral spring, T, connects the two studs i i, and thus tends to draw thefolders R inward. Now the cam s c", acting through levers S, move thefolders R outward simultaneously, and when the blank reaches the properposition that is, between the foldersthe cams release their respectivelevers and the spring T instantly draws in, the folders and folds thelateral flaps of the blanks.

In machines for making short envelopes, or commercial envelopes, wherethe folders R serve to fold the end flaps, these folders may have anoscillatory movement,instead of a movement in a right line in guides.

As the partly-folded blank in its onward travel. passes from thefolding-blades Ii, its advancing angles or corners pass under guides jj,secured to the table A, which lead or guide the lateral folded edges ofthe blank, respectively, under two endless bolts, 71: 7t, arrai'iged onrollers over the carrying-belt I These belt serve to feed the blankforward by keeping it down to the belt 13, and at the same tiineleavethe lateral flaps free to fold the one on the other, the gummed flapfolding down To insure the urn gumm ed flap folding down first, thegunimed flap is held up for a little space by a rod, 7e", attached toframe 0, or some similar device. The thin forked plate Z, which isattached to the front end of the frame 0 and rests lightly on the beltB, stands, of course, between the face and back plies of the foldedblank as the latter passes over it. It forms a part of the device forpreventing the gumming of the belt when no blank is passing.

The blank now passes to the mechanism for applying gumv to the bottomflap. This consists of an ordinary gumming-roller, U, and a fountain, Y,mounted in a frame, IV, hinged in brackets mounted on the machine-bed.The fountain will require no description. In order to prevent the blankfrom adhering to the gumming roller U, as it may do where thin or flimsypaper is employed, I usually employ some form of stripper to preventthis.

mounted on sliding plates R R, that play in I will briefly describe thatherein shown, pre

mising that it forms no part of myinvention. A cross-bar, on, extendsover the belt B, and to this are attached fingers 'n, which extend outover the belt B and a little above it and under the gumming-roller I. Inorder that the said fingers may not interfere with the proper contact ofroller U with the body of the passing blank, peripheral grooves areformed in the face of said roller, corresponding in position with saidfingers, and the lands between said grooves pass down between thefingers. The grooved gummingroller is seen detached in Fig. 14. Thefingers n hold the blank down and strip it from the revolving roller.The gummed bottom flap of the blank next passes into the tumbler, whichis the device shown and described in .my former patents for folding thisflap. Forupper end of a cam-rod, q, the lower end of which is forked andguided on the axis of the drum 0 at that end of the machine. On this isfixed a vol ute cam, 0-, which operates against a stud, s, on thecam-rod. This cam, in connection with a retracting-spring, t, attachedat one end to arm 19 and at the other to some fixed part, serves tovibrate said arm and oscillate the shaft p.

Fixed on shaft 1), just inside of its bearings, are two like arms, it'u, in which is mounted the tumbler Y, which in itself is constructedthe same as that described in my former patent. As both ends of thetumbler are mounted in the same way, I have only shown in Figs. 9, 10,and 1.1 the devices wherein and whereby it is mounted at one of itsends.

To the bracket 0 is fixed an elbow-like bracket, 1), having a slot, oformed in it, and to this bracket r is coupled a plate, to, by means ofa screw or stud, of, passing through slot v The tumbler is j ournaled inplate w, the journal on its end also passing through and playing in aslotted bearing, 50, in the small figure below Fig. 10 in the lower freeend of arm n. Pivoted to the plate 20 is a gravity-latch, y, which isdesigned to hook over and turn the tumbler, as indicated in Fig. 9. Astud, z, 011 plate w prevents the latch from being thrown up too high.

The operation is as follows: Suppose the higher part of cam 1" haspassed stud s and spring i has drawn down arm 19 The several parts willthen stand as in Fig. 10, the tumbler being held up to the inclined stopa in position to receive the flap of the blank. The blank passes intothe tumbler, and at edge to move on, thus essentiallybringing thetumbler first to a vertical position, and then causes it to topple overbackward or toward the left in Fig. 9. The slot at in arm a will nowstand with its long axis about vertical, and when the tumbler topplesover, this arrangement of slot 00 permits the tumbler to fall. At thismoment, however, the cam 7* again passes the stud s, and spring 25,which has been under tension, instantly returns the parts to theposition seen in Fig. 10, thus slipping the tumbler off the folded flapof the blank and returning it to the proper position to receive the nextblank. In returning the tumbler jumps over the wet gum on the body ofthe envelope. The blank now passes under the pressure-roller Z, whichpresses or seals down the flap folded by the tumbler and smooths anddelivers the envelope to the roller that applies gum to thesealing-flap. Roller Z is driven from the drum 0 immediately below itthrough the medium of toothed gears 0 Fig. 11 is a section on line 11 11in Fig. 10 and shows the parts 0 r, a, and w in edge elevation.

From the roller Z the envelope passes to a gumming-roller, U, whichapplies gum to the sealingflap, provided the envelopes are designed tobe self-sealing. It will not be necessary to further describe thisdevice than to say that roller U is or may be the same as roller U, thatit may be supplied with gum from a fountain, V, similar to fountain V,and that between roller Z and roller U, I may and usually do arrange amechanism to prevent the application of gum to a bearingroller, 0 whenno blank is passing. This IIO mechanism is or may be the same inprinciple as that described in my former patent, and will thereforerequire no description. The bearing-roller C 1nayhave on its face rubber(or other) type, indicated at O in Figs. 2 and l for printing abusiness-card on the face of the envelope as the latter passes over it.I have not shown the ink-fountain and roller for supplying ink to thetype, as such are well known. After the envelope passes from under thegumming-roller U, it is seized and carried on by pairs of small rollerA, which take it by the edges, so as to avoid the wet gum on thesealing-flap, and deliver it onto an endless-chain carrier, B. (Seen inFig. 4 This carrier is or may be of the kind usually employed inenvelope-machines, and is arranged at the rear end or delivery end ofthe machine. It moves intermittently and receives an impulse for eachenvelope delivered through the medium of a pawl-and-ratchet device.prises a ratchet-wheel, a on the driving-shaft Z7 of the carrier B, apawl, c, carried by a radial swinging arm, d", which pawl engages saidratchet-wheel, and a connecting-rod, 6 one end of which is coupled toarm (1", and the other end of which is coupled to a short crank, f, onthe axis of roller C The direction in which carrier B moves is indicatedby the arrows in Fig. t, wherein a? indicates an envelope that has justbeen delivered into said carrier by rollers A; envelopes in the carrieron their way down to the folder; .90 an envelope that has been removedfrom the carrier by the folding mechanism, and envelopes completed anddelivered into the re ceiving-box.

I will say here that the rollers A, that bear on the extreme ends of theenvelope, are not connected by a shaft, the space between them,

being left open for the gummed sealing-flap of the envelope to rise upwhen the envelope is carried upward by carrier B.

I will now describe the folding mechanism and the operation of foldingthe sealing-flap of the envelope, premising that the envelope with itsflap gummed is carried up by the carrier (on the right side in Fig. l asfar as the carrier extends, and then down again (on the left side inFig. at) to be folded. The carrier will be of the proper length toretain the envelope until the gum on the flap is dry or sufficiently so.As the envelopes 50 descend, they finally reach the point where thecarrier breaks around shaft 11 and the fingers g of same begin to spreadapart. Here I provide a means for preventing the envelopes from droppingout of the carrier, which 1 they would otherwise do, as soon as thefingers loosen their hold. This device consists merely of two sideplates, it, set at the proper distance apart to embrace the envelopesedgewise (or end wise, as the case may be) as they move along. Theseplates are lined inside with some soft material, preferably plush orother pile fabric, which, by its contact with the ends of the envelopes,prevents their falling out of their own weight, but permits the fingersto move them along to the delivery-point. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation orback view of this portion of the mechanism, showing how thelinin g ofplush contacts with the envelope. \Vhen an envelope has reached thedelivery-point, it stands with the sealingfiap projecting downward andwith the face of the envelope toward the left in Fig. 4".

D is a hoe-like folder provided with a folderblade, 1 which at the upperend of its stroke stands quite close up to shaft b. The arm of folder Dis fixed to a rock-shaft j, and this shaft is rocked and the foldervibrated by a cam, (seen in Fig. 4%) on the axis of one of the drums O.This cam acts through a canrrod, Z", and an arm, 071 on the rock-shaft7' to which arm said rod is coupled. A spring, a retracts the folderafter the cam has passed. ()n the heel of the foldenblade i is formed aThis device, as shown in Fig. 4, com

projecting lip, 0 which serves as a gage and pusher.

The operation is as follows: \Vhilc the folder-blade is moving upwardthe fingers of carrier B are moving forward, and after the folding-bladehas moved up behind a pair of fingers and reached its highest point thecontinued movement of the fingers of the carrier B brings an envelope upagainst the face of said blade, the lip extending over the upper edge(which is the bottom) of the envelope. At this moment cam 7; actson'said blade, which descends, pushing the envelope downward from thecarrier. Fig. 4" shows the folding-blade at a point about half-way inits downward movement. Simultaneously with this movement another hastaken place. As the folder-blade descends, a device, which I will call adeflector, comes in play. This comprises a bar, 19*, mounted on twoarms, g, on a reciprocating frame, 9", and a plate, 3 also mounted onsaid frame. Fig. t" shows the deflector advanced and, the bar 17 ashaving deflected the flap of the descending e11- velope or bent itacross the path of the folderbladc. The folder-blade pushes the envelopedown through the space between bar p and plate 8, this movement servingto crease the paper along the line of fold, and at the latter end of itsdownward movement the said blade tucks this fold between two revolvingrollers,

blade is retracted, frame 1' moves back, (to

the left in Fig. 4 carrying with it a ram, 11, in a box, E, arrangedunder the machine to receive the envelopes. When the ram a" has movedback to the position seen in the dot ted lines, the envelope drops fromthe rollers 15 into box E in front of said ram. The ram now movesforward again and pushes the envelope forward in the box beyond twocleats, t arranged across the box IE above and below. These may besimply metal rods extending across the box. They serve as detainers toprevent the envelopes from falling backin the Way of the next insuccession. Thus the rain pushes on into the box one envelope afteranother as they are fed downward from the rollers. This form of ram andbox provided with cleats is very old in this class of machines, and I donot claim it.

I will now describe the mechanism for imparting a reciprocating motionto the frame 7' and ram u The ram is fixed to a sliding block, to,mounted to play in'suitable guides in the sides of box E, and the framer is mounted on this block. This block 20 is coupled by connecting-rodsx to arms 0], fixed on a rockshaft, .2", which has another arm, a,coupled to a forked cam-rod, N, which is acted on by a cam, 0 (seen inFig.4) on the axis of a drum, 0. The cam imparts movement in onedirection to the deflector and ram, and a spring, d imparts movementthereto in the opposite direction. The rollers t are driven. or may bedriven by a belt, 6 from drum C. The box IE is open at the top where theenvelope enters it from rollers t, and a loose weight is placed in thebox in front of the moving column of envelopestherein, in order to keepthe latter in a compact mass.

Any cam mechanism may be employed for actuating the 'lolder-blade,deflector, and ram, so long as they act in unison, as described; and thedeflector might be actuated by one cam and the ram by another. The plate3 is cut out or scalloped at its top to make way or room for theoutwardly-projeeting flaps of the envelopes in the carrier B. Itsfunction is mainly to keep the body of the envelope up snugly againstthe outer face of the folderblade. The fold is primarily formed by theforcing of the envelope down between the bar 1) and this plate s, and itis completed by the rollers I".

Fig. 3 shows the air-exhausting device employed in connection with thesucker 'i. This is the same device as that employed in the machinesdescribed in my former patents, and will need but a brief reference,especially as any device that will eliect this result may be employed.

A is a cylinder, in which plays a piston attached to the end of a rod,B". To the lower end of the cylinder is connected the flexible tubej,leading to the sucker 1:.

Around the rod B is a spiral spring, which abuts at it: lower end oncylinder A and at its upper end against a collar on red B". A volutecam, l, on the axis of drum G, acts on the end of rod 13 to push downthe piston and compress the spring. \Vhen the cam passes, the springraises the piston suddenly and produces the necessary vacuum at thesucker. A bellows might be substituted for the cylinder and piston.

All belts are liable to slip on their pulleys, and I find that thecarrying-beltB, which should be accurately timed in its movements inorder to bring the blanks to the proper points at the proper times, isliable to be slightly retarded in its movements when any retardingpressure is brought to bear upon it. In order to avoid this defect andto provide a precautionary device, whereby the proper speed of belt Bwill be at all times maintained uniform, I place under said belt aseries of endless chains. (Seen in Fig. 2 and illustrated onalargerseale in Fig. In the bed A of the machine, over which the belt Bmoves, and with which it is substantially in surface contact, I form oneor more longitudinal. grooves, a", deep enough to receive the endlesschains I). I prefer to have three grooves in the table under the belt 3,one being arranged about the middle of the belt and the others near themargins of same, respectively. These grooves I make wide enough toreceive eight or nine chains, each placed side by side;

but this arrangement is not essential. At the rear end of the machine,and just in front of the drum (J at that end of the machine, I mount asprocket-drum, E, over which the chains I)" pass, as seen in Fig. 12.This drum E is driven positively from drum (3 by suitable gearing, I),so constructed to give the chains a speed equal to the speed of the belt13. The chains may be slack, as indicated in Fig. 2, and at the frontend of the machine they pass over a simple idler .roller or drum. Asthis latter roller not absolutely essential, and is merely designed tosupport the chains at that end of the machine, I have not deemed itnecessary to show it. It will be seen that the chains rise flush withthe upper surface of the table or bed A, and consequently when the beltB is pressed down its under side is brought into contact over aconsiderable part of its surfacewith the moving chains instead ofthenon-moving bed. As the chains are moving with the same speed as thatat which the belt should move, the pressure only tends to insure thecontinual movement of the belt and not to retard it. As the contactbetween the chains and the surface of the belt is merely frictional, Ifind it advantageous, first, to raise the chains a very little above thegeneral level of the surface of the table, and, second, to speed them avery little faster than the belt. This latter does not necessarily throwthe belt out of time, as the belt, having its own normal rate of speed,resists being driven faster.

In Figs. 15 and 15 I have shown my improved gummin g apparatus,represented here as being employed to supply gum to roller P. In thesefigures, g represents the fountain or receptacle for the gum, which isopen at its lower front corner to receive the gum-feed roller It. Thisroller is rotatively mounted in arms '17, which have bearings on theroller axis or shaft at their lower ends and pivotal attachments at tothe ends of the fountain. Two screws, screw through lugs Z on the endsof the fountain, and their ends bear on the arms at their upper parts.\Vhen the screws are screwed in against the arms, the back edge, on, ofthe opening in the bottom of the fountain is brought up more or lessclose to the roller. Springs a serve to keep the arms always pressed upelastically against the ends of the screws 7;. The gearing which impartsrotary motion to roller 7:? drives it in. the direction of the arrow onit, and the space left by the adjustment between the edge on of thefountain and the periphery of the roller governs the thickness of. thefilm of gum on the roller, the edge m serving as a scraper. The roller 1revolves in the same direction as the roller 71", so that at theirpoints of contact they move in opposite directions. The gum feed roller7i and the roller 1 for applying gum to the envelope will both be bypreference of metal, and will both be in close peripheral contact.Therefore, by arranging them to rotate in this man- IIO ner, roller Pserves as awipcr to take the gum from the fountain-roller. Such gum asis not taken off by the roller Pit having a narrow face and thefountain-roller being a cylinder of considerably greater length-will beearricd back into the gum-fountain by the roller. The fountain-rollerfits snugly en dwise be tween two flanges or ribs, 0, formed integrallywith the front wall or side of the fountain, and secured to the upperedge of this front or side of the fountain is an elastic thin plate, 1),the free lower end of which rests on the fountain-roller 7L5. This platefits also snugly between the flanges 0 and its width is equal to thelength of the roller. It allows the gum carried back by the roller topass back under it into the fountain when the roller is rapidlyrevolving; but when the roller is at rest it presses down snuglythereupon and prevents the gum from leakingout. The fountain issupported on the axis of the roller if, as stated; but in orderto'prevent it from swinging backward by rotation of the arms on saidaxis I usually support it on a rod or post, q, projecting upward fromsome part of the machine-frame.

I may say here that the roller P has a narrow face to apply a narrowstripe of gum to the envelope-flap, and the fmintain-roller has a broadface, in order that the roller P may be set in or out to suit envelopesof different sizes, and yet be in contact with some part of the face ofsaid fountain-roller. The roller P can be proportioned, as hereinbeforestated,

or it may be of small size, and make two or more revolutions while anenvelope-blank is passing. It is only important that the notch P in itsedge shall be so set that as the envelope passes on and out from underthe rollerthe lz'ttter shall not continue applying gum to the extremeend of the flap, but leave a little space at this end of the blank,which will eventually form the open end of the envelope. It is not soimportant that the stripe of gum be limited at the other end.

I do not claim notching the roller P in order to leave a space free fromgum, as this is an old device in apparatuses for applying gum.

I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction andarrangement of parts herein shown, as these may be varied to someextent. For example, the lateral folders R might have each a spring, T,instead of one spring being employed for both. The blank-plat form mightalso be upheld by a weight, instead of a spring; but a spring, or,ratln'ir, a pair of springs, is more cmivcnient.

Having thus described my invmltion, I claim 1. In a blank or sheet sejiarating 1nechanism, the combination, with a blank-platform, of twopresser-feet, c c, mechanism, substantially as described, for impartingalternate oscillations or vibrations to same, a sucker,

r", pivotally attached to presser-foot c and connected to anairexhausting mechanism,

and. said air-exhausting mechanism, substantially as described, the saidpivoted sucker being arranged in the path of said presserfoot 0,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a blank or sheet feeding mechanism, the combination, with means,substantially as described, for li lting and separating the blank orsheet from the pile, of a vibrating frame, K, curved feeders s 5,carried by said frame, a curved guide, rl,-carried by said frame and itsfree end resting on the carrying-belt, said carrying-belt, and means,substantially as described, for vibrating said frame K and for drivingsaid carrying-belt, substantially as set forth. v

3. In a blank or sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of theblank-platform and means, substantially as described, for upholding it,the alternaiely-oscillating presser-feet and means, substantially asdescribed, for actuating same, the sucker pivoi ally connected to one ofsaid presscnfeet and adapted to be raised. by the other presser-t'oot,the air-exhausting mechanism, substantially as described, connected withsaid sucker, and the vibrating feeder and its operative mechanism,substantially as set forth.

at. The combination, with the main carrying-belt B and its drums C, ofthe shaft L. the

pulley M, carried thereby, the frame 0, eon neeted to the main frame bylinks, the pulley M, mounted in frame 0, the belt N, carried by pulleysM M, and the spring (0, arranged to press belt N down upon thecarryingbelt 13.

5. The combination, with the main carrying-belt, the folding-blades F,and the lateral folders, of the two endless belts 7r, arranged over themtrrying-belt and in line with the fold in g-blad es, and the guides forleading the lateral folds of the envelope under the said belts 71;,substantially as set forth.

('5. The combination, with the shaft p, pro

vided with pendent arms 'a, and an arm, p of means for impartingoscillating movcnu-mts to said shaft, a tumbler, Y, mounted in slottedbearings in said arms n, the fixed brackets "r', the plates 20,connected to said brackets by studs and slots, as described, and saidtumbler journaled in said plates 10', and a latch, 7 pivotally mountedon the plates to, and arranged to hook over the edge of the tumbler,substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the machine-bed, provided with grooves a toreceive them, of the endless chains 1), arranged under thecarrying-belt, the sprocket-roller E", over which said chains pass, themain carryingbelt B, and its drums C 0, and gearing, whereby said beltand chains are driven in unison, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of the frame K, provided with a bar, q, the frame K,mounted in frame K on red p, and provided with concave feeders s s androllers 2, the spring or springs r, connecting frames K and K, thecurved guide u, mounted in frame K, and its spring '11", substantiallyas set forth.

5'). The combination, with the carrier 13, of the side plates, 711 linedwith plush or similar soft material and arranged at each side of thecarrier at the delivery-point, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

10. The combination, with the carrier B, of the vibrating folderprovided with a folderblade, 1?, and a gage or pusher, 0, of a reciprocating deflector arranged to deflect the flap of the envelope acrossthe path of the folderblade and rollers 19, arranged substantially asset forth.

11. The conil'iiuation, with the intermittently-movin g carrier B, ofthe vibrating hoelike folder, the reciprocating deflector, 00H].-prising the bar 19 and plate 8, the rotating rollers 15*, arranged undersaid deflector and the folder-blade, the box or receptacle E, arrangedbelow said rollers, and the reeiprocating rain 10', arranged in saidbox, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing 25 witnesses.

GERARD SICKELS, JR. Witnesses:

HENRY CONNETT, J. D. OAPLINGER.

